Cross-tab

TeamDesk holds the data in flat tables meaning that it consists of a fixed number of columns and a variable number of rows. While such a structure can contain a lot of information, it can be difficult to present summarized info in such a way.

Let’s demonstrate the Students’ Payments database. Every payment is a record comprising the following data: a student who made this payment, a date when the payment was made, and a paid amount value.

Now we need to find the answer to the question: what amount was paid by each student every month during the term.

The Cross-Tab View is a handy tool for displaying such reports. For a cross-tab, you’ll need to specify the field whose values will form columns in an output and another field whose values will form rows; and then the field(s) and function to calculate to form a value of a cell on an intersection of row and column. In our example, dates grouped in months will form columns while student names will form rows; each cell displays the amount of payments made by a student during a certain month.

Rows, columns, and cells are clickable. Clicking on a column heading will display records by a specific month for all students. Clicking on the student will display records by a specific student for all dates. And clicking the cell will display records by a specific date and student - the Detail View of the value stored in the cell:

To create a Cross-tab view, select the Cross-tab option from the list of view types and click Next. The system will display the Cross-tab view form comprising the sections described below.

General Properties

Name

Enter a name for the new cross-tab view.

Notes

This field can hold any developer’s comments that need to be kept for this view. The comments will be visible in the Setup mode only.

Show In Menu

Leave this option checked if the view should be displayed in the menu.

Category

Enter a category name if you want to group the view under a category.

Highlight Color

Select a color to highlight this view in the list displayed in the menu.

Icon

This option allows you to select an icon for a view. You have a choice of 900+ icons covering various subjects – actions, brands, file types, symbols, animals, and more. The Search box above will help you narrow down the list of choices.

In the User mode the icon will appear to the left of the view name listed in the left menu of the table.

Access

If you want to restrict access to the view for your users based on their roles, select the Restrict access right by role checkbox and choose which roles will have access to this particular view.

Matching Properties

Filter

The Matching section is intended to set the filter criteria for the records that will be displayed in the view.

• All records: select if you want to include all records into the view;
• Only records that meet certain criteria: select if you want to filter records according to certain criteria. With the help of drop-down lists below create the rules according to which records will be filtered;
• Custom formula: select if you want to enter a custom formula and add the formula into the expanded field.

Grouping Properties

Grouping

In this section specify the field whose values will form columns in an output and another field whose values will form rows.

In our example Students form rows while Dates grouped by month form columns. Grouping options are expounded in the Grouping item.

Columns to Calculate

Columns

In the Columns section specify column(s) and calculating function to form a value of a cell on an intersection of row and column. In our example each cell displays the amount paid by a student during a month. Specify the display as meaning to name the calculated value according to your needs.

Advanced Options

The Advanced options section is intended to specify additional options:

Details View

The Cross-tab view contains an overview of table records, the records are grouped, and results of such grouping are shown in cells.
To see details on a certain group, the Details View option should be set and each grouping value will be displayed as a link. When a user clicks on such link, the details of a group are displayed. Detailed group information may be given in any view (including Cross-tab view).
You can define what view will be used to show details of the record groups. In the Details View dropdown you can select any view built in the same table.

Enable Embedding

This option allows you to copy/paste simple HTML snippet to embed a view on your website page. More details are described here Embedding Option for Views.

Help

When this text property is filled in, a view page displays a small dropdown titled "Help" just under the tab bar. When the user clicks it, it extends downward, displaying the text you’ve entered. Help text is formatted using markdown.

When finished, click Save to create a new view; click Cancel to discard changes.